Hey, Music Lovers: Check Out This Chatham County Music Festival
As December ends, and January begins, 2015 is upon us, which means it’s planning time! Goals are set, vacations destinations are picked, work schedules are created. It’s an exciting time to look forward to the next chunk of 365 days.
If you haven’t nailed down your travel plans yet, I want to highlight a Chatham County event that takes place this spring: Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance. Hosted by the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance Organization as a fundraiser for the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center, this annual event is a prime destination for food, music, crafts and fun. The four-day event (April 16 – 19) includes nearly 30 craft vendors, several food vendors offering everything from coffee to curry, a sustainability fair, and a “Moving Tent” that will house natural healing workshops.
But the real attraction is the music!
“Joy is contagious. Music can fascinate, soothe, make us reflect, learn, and make us bust a move,” says Sara, the festival organizer. “I LOVE watching people experience all of these feelings while standing in front of our stages.”
For a complete list of bands (there are more than 50 of them!), click here. A few of the names include:
The Soul Rebels: Last spring, the festival hosted the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a New Orleans group who were such a hit, the organizers made sure to include a similar band this year. The Soul Rebels, also based out of New Orleans, matched perfectly, with a mixture of modern day jazz and classic soul that would make even Louis Armstrong proud. Try not to move your feet in front of the Meadow for this one on Saturday night at 10:30 pm!
Swear & Shake: This up-and-coming band based out of Brooklyn, NY, has a mellow style, and lead vocalist Kari Spieler captivates her audiences with a powerful voice. College friends who have been touring since graduation, Swear & Shake’s style is reminiscent of the folk/indie vibe made popular by bands like the Lumineers. See them Saturday in the Meadow at 2:45.
Lowland Hum: A North Carolina music festival wouldn’t be complete without an ample supply of local talent! This folk duo from Greensboro calls themselves a “multisensory artistic collaboration” and use visual art, print, and smells in their performances, allowing the audience to be a part of their show. Lowland Hum’s simple, soothing music (they rely only on percussion and a guitar) will be on display twice: Friday in the Meadow at 4:30 and Saturday in the Cabaret Tent at 3:45.
Las Cafeteras: Based in LA, Las Cafeteras sounds like a performance to see! The group uses Afro-Mexican rhythms and zapateado flair to create a mix of punk, hip-hop, and rock (even though you can still hear their traditional immigrant folk roots). This is the type of band Shakori Hills is known for: You haven’t heard of them, but you will leave glad you found them! See them on Saturday in the Cabaret Tent at 11:45 pm.
Tickets are on sale at Early Bird rates, so get yours today!
You can purchase passes by the day, or you can get a pass for all four days for a discounted rate. Passes for tent and RV camping are also available. For a complete look at the pricing calendar, click here. At the moment, prices are as follows:
- Adult, 4-day: $104
- Youth (13 – 15), 4-day: $54
- Thursday: $27
- Friday: $37
- Saturday: $44
- Sunday: $27
- Vehicle Camping: $79
- Tent Camping: $24
Prices will go up on February 23, so act soon!
Get a taste of Chatham County and enjoy good music.
This festival is a hit every year, and it looks like 2015 will be no different. Food, fun, crafts, music, sustainability. What could be better?
Happy New Year!
Photo credit: Durham Herald-Sun